Knockdown box



L. FRAWKENFELD.

KNOCKDOWN BOX.

APPLICATION FILED APR.13,1921.

Patented Nov. 2 1, 1922.

3 SHEETSSHEET I.

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L. FRANKENFELD.

KNOCKDOWN BOX.

APPLICATION FILED APR. I3, 192!- Patented Nov. 21, 1922.

3 SHEETS-SHE 2.

L. FRANKENFELD.

KN OCKDOWN BOX- APPLICATION FILED APIR. 13, 1921. 1,436, 1 6 Patented Nov. 21, 1922.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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entree waits rarest! LEO FBANKENEELD, 01" HOBOKEN, NEW JERSEY; ASSIGNOR TO FEDERATED ENGI- NEERS DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, A CORPOEA-' 'IION OF DELAWARE.

KNOCKDOVN BOX.

Application filed April 13, 1921, Serial No. 61,008.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that Lno FRANKENFELD, a citizen of United States of America, residing at 906 Hudson Street, Hoboken, NewJersey, has invented certain new and useful Improvements in Knockdown Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to folding, eollapsime or k'nockdown boxes particularly'adapted for use in the shipment or transport of articles or commodities, althoughnot restricted to this particular use.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an improved manner of arranging and connecting together the various walls of the box so that they may be very easily and quickly knockeddown or taken apart for return shipment and as readily reassembled to receive articlesor commodities for trans- Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description. v z

The invention is illustrated in several forms thereof in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of one form of box constructed in accordance with the invention Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view thereof takenon the line IL-"II of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of a modified form of boxhaving a somewhat different arrangement of the walls and a different form of locking device;

Fi g ure ii: is a sectional plan view of the box illustrated in Figure 3, taken on the line IV-lV of said figure,

Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of a third form-of box in accordance with shown for connecting the end walls with the side walls Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the box shownin Figure 5, taken on the line YI VI of the latter figure; and

Flgure 7 is a detail view showing the manner of connecting the side and end walls together.

The form of box illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 comprises end walls a and a, side walls Z) and (Z, a top wall f and a bottom wall g. The end walls a and c are of such size and shape as to fit between the side walls 5 and d and the top and bottom walls f and g, and the side walls I) and (Z are of such height as to fit between the top and bottom Walls f and g. The side walls 6 and (l and the bottom wall 9 are coextensive in length but the top wall f is somewhat longer than the walls b, d and g for apurpose hereinafter referred to.

In order to connect the walls 5, (Z, 7 and together each wall is provided adjacent the longitudinal edges thereof with longitudinal strips, preferably made of sheet metal, the strips of the wall b being designated 6, those of thewall d being designated 65', those of the wall 7' being designated and those of the wall 9 being designated 9. The strips 7" and the strips 9, as will be clearly seen from Figure 2, comprise flat strips of metal bent over along one edge so that the strip has a hook shapedcross-section, and the strips Wand cl are formed from strips of metal first bent at substantially right angles and thenreversely bent to form a portion of hook shaped cross-section along one longitudinal edge of the strip; The various strips are so arranged on the respective walls as to provide a pair of strips along each longitudinal corner or edge of the box, which pair of strips are interlocked with each other so as to prevent relative displacement between the walls to which they are attached. Each pair of strips is interlocked in this way by relative longitudinal sliding movement between the walls to which the strips are attached. the bent over portions of the pair of strips being entered into each other at the ends of the same and the walls then being slid longitudinally until they are in the proper relativepositions. The strips may be secured to the walls by nailing, riveting or in any other suitable manner and, if desired, they may be pressed into the material of said walls so that the main portions of the strips are flush with said walls, leaving the hook shaped edges projecting therefrom.

The end walls a and 0 are secured to the side walls 6 and d by similar interlocking strips 6 and e secured to the side and end walls respectively and interlocked by a relative vertical sliding movement between said end walls and side walls.

In assembling the box the side walls Z) and (Z may be connected to the bottom wall 9 by sliding the walls 6, (Z relatively to the wall 9 so as to interlock the lower strips 6', d with the strips 9, after which the end walls a and 0 may be connected to the side walls I) and d by vertically sliding the end walls relatively to the side walls to interlock the strips 6, e on said walls, the lower edges of the end and side walls then resting upon the bottom wall g. The top wall f is then slid longitudinally relatively to theside walls 6 and (Z to interlock the strips f with the upper strips 5, d",

It will be noted that the strips secured to the various walls extend substantially throughout the length of said walls so that when the strips are interlocked a strong and rigid connection is provided extending substantially throughout the entire length of the various walls of the box and all of these strips are onthe interior of the box so that when the walls are all assembled the strips are inaccessible from the exterior.

The top wall f, as before stated, is somewhat longer than the walls Z), (Z and g and this is to provide a portion of said top wall extending beyond the end wall c, and this end wall is provided with a strip 0 corresponding in width to the overlapping portion of the top wall. The strip 0? and the top wall are provided with registering apertures 2' through which is adapted to be passed a securingbolt j having a nut]; threaded thereon. This bolt is provided with a hole through the outer end thereof and through this hole a wire may be passed, the ends of which are secured by a lead seal or like sealing device Z. This provides a means for securing the top wall in place so as to prevent unauthorized opening of or tampering with the box after the same has been assembled and filled.

The end walls a and 0 are preferably 'provided around the edges thereof with frames a, 0' which serve to strengthen said walls and which extend beyond the edges thereof so as to be substantially flush with the outer surfaces of the side walls Z), (Z and top and bottom walls 7, g. The frame a abuts against the'ends of the walls 7), d, and I] and the frame 0 abuts against the ends of the walls I), d and 9, this providing for increased strength and rigidity at the ends of the box, the endwalls preventing relative displacement of the sidewalls. The strip 0" hereinbefore referred to forms part of the frame 0.

In order to strengthen theitop, bottom and side walls of the box each wall is provided adjacent each end thereof with a transverse strip nailed, riveted or otherwise secured thereto. The strips 8 on the side walls brand d extend above and below the upper and lower edges of said walls in order to engage the adjacent upper and lower surfaces of the strips 6, which are secured to the top and bottom walls and extend beyond the side edges of said walls above and below the strips 3. These strips constitute in effect a rigid frame or band extending around the box adjacent each end of the same and materially strengthen and increase the rigidity of the box.

In the modified construction of box shown in Figures 3 and f the end walls a and 0 with their frames aand 0 lie wholly withinthe top, bottom and side walls 7, g, b and d and the strengthening strips 8 and t 85 are secured in place at the extreme ends of the box. The side walls areconnected to the top and bottom walls and the end walls are connected to the sidewalls by means of strips secured to the various walls and interlocking in substantially the same manner as hereinbefore referred to in regardto the constructionshown in Figures 1 and 2, the various walls and strips being correspondingly lettered in Figures 3 and 4. Angle strips'u connected to the bottom wall 9 provide abutments for the lower ends of the end walls a and 0 in order to brace and strengthen the same.

The locking device shown in Figure 3 comprises a strip to secured to the top wall f and bent into the form illustrated so as to engage the outer face, ofthe end wall a this strip being apertured'at its lower end to receivea bolt y carried by the wall a and having a nutthreaded thereon. This bolt at its outer end may be provided with a hole to receive the wire of a lead seal or other device as described with reference to the preceding figures.

Theform of box illustrated in Figures 5, 6 and 7 is particularly adapted for use as a coffin and it comprises side walls Z) and (Z and top and bottom walls 7 and g which are connected together by interlocking strips 115 in substantially the same manner as that described with reference to the preceding figures, it being noted, however, that the side walls Z) and cl are relatively inclined, the hook shaped ends of the strips on the top 120 and bottom walls being bent to a slightly greater extent in view of this relative inclination. The top wall f is preferably formed in two parts, one of which may remain in place while the other is removed 125 in order to permit access to one end of the box or coflin.

The end walls a and c of the box or cofiin are connected to the side walls by means of strips m and m respectively secured to the 130 side and end walls, of which the strips m merely have their edge portions bent at a substantial right angle while the strips on have the edge portions thereof bent out of the plane of the main portions of the strips but parallel thereto in order that the bent portions of the strips on may be received between the offset portions of the strips on and the surface of the end wall. This a rangement of thestrips is necessary in view of the relative inclination of the side walls b and d, the end walls being placed in position by vertical sliding movement of the end wall to engage the bent portions of the strips at between said wall and the offset portions of the strips m. It will be understood that in this construction as well as in the preceding forms described the end wall 0 is notched at a to permit the passage therethrough of the strips 7, f on the top wall 7 It will be understood that while for convenience of illustration the interlocking strips have been shown as somewhat loosely interengaging with each other, these strips in actual practice will be made to fit moreclosely together so as to provide a rigid connection in which free play is avoided.

It. will also be understood that while the walls f and 9 have been referred to as top and bottom Walls, all of the walls Z), (Z, 7, 9 may be considered as side walls in conjunction-with two end walls a and 0' and they will be so referred to in certain of the claims hereunto appended.

tion on each of said walls interlocked with correspondingly hook-shaped strips on the adjacent walls by a relative longitudinal sliding movement between said walls, and means connecting said end walls to one pair I ofthe remaining walls.

2. A knockdown box, comprising bottom and top walls, side walls and end walls, means connecting all of said walls comprising a pair of longitudinally extending strips hook-shaped in cross-section on each of said walls interlocked with correspondingly hookshaped strips on the adjacent walls by a relative longitudinal sliding movement between said walls.

3. A knockdown box, comprising bottom and top walls, side walls and end walls, means connecting said bottom, top and side walls comprising a pair of longitudinally extending strips hook-shaped in cross-sec tion on each of said walls interlocked with correspondingly hook-shaped strips on the adjacent walls by a relative longitudinal sliding movement between said walls, and means connecting said end walls to one pair of the remaining walls comprising strips on said end walls engaged by a relative longitudinal sliding movement with strips on said remaining walls.

4. A knockdown box, comprising a plurality of side walls, and end walls, means for connecting said side walls together, comprising at each corner between said walls a pair of longitudinally extending strips interlocked one with the other, each strip comprising a main substantially flat portion secured to the wall of the box and having one longitudinal edge thereof bent over to form a hook-shaped portion adapted to interlock with the correspondingly hook-shaped portion of the other strip of the pair thereof, and means connecting said end walls to one pair of said side walls.

5. A knockdown box, comprising a plurality of side walls, and end walls, means for connecting said side walls together, com prising at each corner between said walls, a pair of longitudinally extending strips interlocked one with the other by a relative longitudinal sliding movement between said walls, said strips being secured to the respective walls forming said corners, one strip of said pair having one longitudinal edge thereof bent over into substantial parallelism with the main portion of the strip and spaced thereupon, and the other strip having one longitudinal edge thereof first bent at substantially right angles to the main portion of the strip and then reversely bent over into substantial parallelism with the first bent portion thereof and spaced therefrom to interlock with the bent over edge of the first strip, and means connecting said end walls to one pair of said side walls.

. 6. A knockdown box, comprising a plurality of sidewalls, and end walls, means for connecting said side walls together, comprising at each corner between said walls, a pair of longitudinally extending strips interlocking one with the other, said strips being secured to the respective walls forming said corner against the interior surfaces of both of said walls and interlocked by a relative longitudinal sliding movement between said walls, and means connecting said end walls to one pair of said side walls.

7. A knockdown box, comprising a plurality of side walls, and end walls, means for connecting said side walls together, and for connecting said end walls to one pair of said side Walls, comprising at each corner be tween said walls, a pair of longitudinally extendin strips interlocking one with the other, said strips being secured to the respective walls forming said corner against the interior surfaces of both of said walls and interlocked by a relative longitudinal sliding movement between said walls.

8. A knockdown box, comprising a plurality of side walls, and end walls, means for connecting said side walls together, comprising at each corner between said walls, a pair of longitudinally extending strips interlocking one with the other, said strips being secured to the respective walls forming said corner against the interior surfaces of both of said walls by means oi rivets extending through said strips and through said walls from the exterior to the interior of the box, said strips being interlocked by relative longitudinal sliding movement between said walls, and means connecting said end walls to one pair of said side walls.

9. A. knockdown box comprising aplurality of side walls, and end walls, means for connecting together the side. walls of the box comprising at each corner between said. walls a pair of longitudinally extending strips interlocked one with the other, having the interlocked portions of the strips located within the interior space enclosed by said walls-,the strips being secured to the respective walls, and interlocked by a relative longitudinal movement between said walls. and meansconnecting said end walls to one pair ofsaid side walls.

10. A knockdown box comprising a plurality of sidewalls, and end walls, means for connecting. together the side walls of the box, and for connecting the end walls to one pair of said side walls, comprising at each corner between said walls a pair of longitudinally extending strips interlocked one with the other, having the interlocked portion of the strips located within the interior space enclosed by said walls, the strips being secured to the respective walls, and interlocked by a relative longitudinal movement between said walls.

11. A knockdown box, comprising top and bottom walls, sidewalls and end walls, connecting means on, the interior of the box between said side walls and said top and bottom walls, connecting means on the interior of the box between said side walls and between said top wall and one of said end walls.

12. A knockdown box, comprising side walls bottom and top walls, and end walls, connecting means between said bottom, top and side walls and between said end walls and said side walls, comprising at each corner between said walls a pair of strips se-' cured to the respective walls and interlocked one with the other by a relative longitudinal sliding movement between said walls; said end walls being adapted to prevent relative displacement between said bottom and side walls, and said top wall being adapted to prevent removal of said end walls, and a single locking device on the exterior of the box for locking the top wall to one of said end walls to prevent removal or displacement of said top wall.

13. A knockdown box, comprising side walls, bottom and top walls, and end walls, connecting means between said bottom, top and side walls and between said end walls and said side walls, comprising at each corner between said walls a pair of strips secured to the respective walls and interlocked one with the other by a relative longitudinal sliding movement between said walls, said end walls being adapted to prevent relative displacement between said bottom and side ails, and said top .wall being adapted to prevent removal of said end walls, and a locking bolt passing through adjacent portions on said top wall and one of said end walls and a nut on said bolt, to lock the top wall to said end wall to prevent removal or displacement of said top wall.

14. A. knockdown box, comprising a pinrality oi sidewallsfand two end Walls, a pair oi interlocking strips on the interior of the box between each adjacent pair of said side walls and between each end wall and each of an opposing pair of said side walls, said strips being interlocked by relative longitudinal movement therebetween, means on said end walls engaging certain of said side walls to hold the same against relative displacement, a locking device on the exterior of the box between one end wall and one side wall, and a sealing device for sealing said locking device against unauthorized removal.

15. A knockdown box, comprising a plurality of side walls, and two end walls fitting within and between said side walls, connec ing means on the interior of the box between each adjacent pair of side walls, and between each end wall and certain of said side walls, each connecting means comprisin a pair of longitudinally extending strips secured to the respective walls and interlocked one with the other by a relative longitndinal sliding movementbetween said walls, and strengthening means extending around the edges of said end walls and engaging the ends of said side walls to prevent relative longitudinal displacement of said side walls.

16. A knockdown box comprising a plurality of side walls and two end walls fitting within and between said side walls, connectnaeeaes ing means on the interior of the box between each adjacent pair of side walls, and between each end wall, and certain of said side walls, each connecting means comprising a pair of longitudinally extending strips secured to the respective walls and interlocked by a relative longitudinal sliding movement between said walls, strengthening means extending around the edges of one of said side walls and engaging the ends of all of said side walls to prevent relative longitudinal displacement thereof in one direction, strengthening means extending around the edges of the other end wall and engaging the ends of all except one of said side walls to prevent relative longitudinal displacement thereof in the opposite direction, and a locking device passing through the remainin side wall and the adjacent strengthening means on the last mentioned end wall to prevent longitudinal displacement of said remaining side wall.

17. A knockdown box, comprising a plurality of side walls and two ends walls, connecting means on the interior of the box between each pair of side walls and between said end walls and certain of said side walls, said means comprising at each corner between said walls a pair of longitudinally extending strips interlocked one with the other by a relative sliding movement between said walls, strengthening strips secured to said side Walls on the exterior thereof to form bands extending entirely around the ends of the box, each strip extending beyond the edges of the wall to which it is secured with the strips of one opposed pair of walls overlapping and engaging the edges of the other opposed pair of walls, and the strips on the last mentioned pair of walls overlapping and engaging the ends of the strips on the first mentioned pair of walls.

18. A knockdown box, comprising a plurality of side walls, and two end walls, connecting means on the interior of the box between each pair of side walls and between said end walls and certain of said side walls, and strengthening strips secured to said side walls on the exterior thereof adjacent the ones of the box to form bands extending entirely around the ends of the box.

19. A knockdown box, comprising a plurality of side walls, and two end walls, connecting means on the interior of the box between each pair of side walls and between said end walls and certain of said side walls, strengthening strips secured to opposite side walls on the exterior thereof and extending beyond the edges of said walls, and strengthening strips secured to the remaining side walls and extending beyond the edges thereof and engaging the ends of the first named strips.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

LEO FRANKENFELD. 

